Between the NFL Scouting Combine and the 2014 NFL Draft, NFL coaches and scouts -- not to mention the prospects themselves -- turn their attention to the various college pro day workouts. These are not as all-encompassing as the combine, but they are important enough for the key decision-makers in the league to travel around the country for more than a month to watch the talent up close and in person. Be sure to check back for updates to the schedule as well as pro day reports.

...but because his decision to declare for the draft after his junior year was more emotional and complex than most. Yes, Crichton is doing it for the money. But when he sat down at a table at the combine media room last Sunday to speak with a small group of mostly Seattle-based reporters, the underrated Tacoma, Wash., native laid out exactly why it was time for him to head to the next level. Simply put, his family desperately needs him to.

“I love my family. I’ve taken this responsibility to take care of them. My mom works two jobs, and my dad is disabled and still works a job, too. They are getting old and I want them to retire and just stop working. I just did this for my family. I was going to come back to college but just to see my family struggle - we didn’t have much growing up and to see my family struggle, I wasn’t OK with that. So I had to do something, and this is one of the greatest opportunities for me to take care of my family.”

Crichton’s parents are both from Western Samoa. His father Lucky (his given name) lost a leg a while back due to health reasons, and it was impossible for Crichton to recall his dad’s struggle since without profound emotion. It was easy - and moving - to see.

“He works at a warehouse right now, which is barely getting by like $10 an hour, and he [had taken] care of my grandpa. My grandpa is 90-something and he just passed. It was just unfortunate, and this was all happening at once.”

So, Crichton didn’t bother getting a grade from the advisory board - he decided to take his 22.5 sacks and 51 tackles for loss over three seasons to the NFL, and see what it would get him.

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“What is the key to getting penetration inside a tackle? Like a 4-tech or a 3-tech? You’ve just got to get off the ball and attack, attack the opposing player and you’ve got to just play on their side of the ball. Coaches always told me, whatever you do, no matter if you are wrong, you’ve got to play on their side of the ball..."

I am going to have a good amount of DTs graded in my top 100 overall. I think it is a good year for the position... There are a lot of BIG defensive tackles in this class. Guys with NFL-ready bodies from a thickness/strength perspective....

A couple names Ive been high on since September are DaQuan Jones (Penn State) and Caraun Reid (Princeton). Jones... is a comfortable 320+ pounds with the easiest knee bend youll find and some sneaky quickness in tight spaces... he can stay low and play with strong hands. Reid is a tough guy to block... is a low mover with explosive steps, incredibly strong base.

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Back in the fall I said this DE class was very weak after Clowney and I still believe it...

...I don't doubt that many teams are consistent with the first two points, but I have serious reservations about the last two. Jamarcus Russell? I remember telling a whole slew of people he'd never make it (Mike, Ryan, and Derek - remember?). How did I know? Because I saw tape of him as a high school senior and he waited for receivers to be out of their breaks before throwing, and that had not changed at LSU. Nobody knows for sure - just as Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) pointed out in "Moneyball" - there is no crystal ball. There is no way of assuring how a player will project from college to the NFL, but I think some things can be done more efficiently, especially from the workout and scouting standpoint.

To me, the way a player's talent will translate has to do more with his surrounding players relative to the opposition rather than if he took all his snaps from shotgun. Shotgun as opposed to under center doesn't matter as much other things, yet people seem to waste a lot of breath on the subject. Why? Every team has a QB coach that's a millionaire - he can teach drops. It's about processing large volumes of information and having enough of a skill set athletically to get the ball to someone open ( who should be graded on speed and explosiveness) -- all while have the courage to ignore the pass rush and the mental toughness to ignore talk radio...

If Donald were 300 lbs or 265 lbs he would be a Top 10 lock. Still at 285 he's the BEST DL in this draft. While Donald would be a perfect fit Wade's D and replacement for Ninja, Crennel's DEs have mostly been of the 300 lb variety.